Change of Plans

The healing, anti-cancer plan has changed.  Again.  From the start of this journey, it was to be an "easy" lumpectomy, then radiation and finally a hormone suppressing medication for 5 years.  Not so much anymore.  My original diagnosis was:  stage 1, grade 2, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), ER+/PR+/HER2-, BRCA negative.  After a 2nd opinion, an MRI, another MRI with 2 biopsies and finally a lumpectomy (sometimes called a partial mastectomy) with a sentinel node biopsy, my diagnosis is now:  Stage 2, Grade 3, IDC, ER+/PR+/HER2-, BRCA negative, with 2 out of 3 lymph nodes positive for cancer.  I also had cancer in the lymphatic channels.  So the anti cancer medication discussions began (now on the healing timeline after surgery, but before radiation and medication).  I gained an oncologist (or 2), a few new nurse navigators and an appointment at the Image Recovery Center.  I also completed all the pre-chemo tests:  an echo (because one of the medications can be toxic to the heart and cause cardiomyopathy), a port-consult (for a surgically placed power port to infuse the anti cancer medication), and a PET scan (that was not covered by insurance).  

And the plan changed again.  While my PET scan showed no cancer in other areas of my body, it did show some "activity" in a lymph node in my right armpit (same as the cancer side).  My oncologist, surgeon and radiation oncologist at Hopkins all feel that more surgery is necessary.  This surgery is an axillary node dissection.    A little more invasive, a little longer recovery.  And a drain.  Yuck.  And it delays anti cancer medication.  My oncologists want it to begin within 3 months of surgery.  Which means, it will start in the 2-3 week recovery time after this next surgery.  

I will be given 3 anti cancer medications.  

Adriamyacin + Cytoxan every 2 weeks for 4 cycles.

Taxol every 2 weeks for 4 cycles.  

My brain cannot process any more than ALL of this at the moment.  Nothing more to say today.